ARMY BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS


IN THE CASE OF:
BOARD DATE: 25 June 2019 DOCKET NUMBER: AR20170004928

APPLICANT REQUESTS: update of his DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) to reflect all awards and decorations authorized since his release date in September 1973.

APPLICANT'S SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD:

   * DD Form 149 (Application for Correction of Military Record)
* DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge), dated 14 May 1967
   * DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge), dated 3 September 1973 FACTS:
1. The applicant did not file within the three year time frame provided in Title 10, United States Code (USC), section 1552 (b); however, the Army Board for Correction of Military Records conducted a substantive review of this case and determined it is in the interest of justice to excuse the applicant's failure to timely file.

2. The applicant states since his release from active duty in September 1973, his records have not been updated to include all awards and decorations authorized and awarded during his period of service. He states he was given an award upon departure from 2nd Air Defense at Fort Hood, and since 1973 Department of the Army has authorized service awards (e.g. Cold War etc.), which have not been included in his records.

3. A review of the applicant’s service record shows:

   a. He enlisted into the Regular Army on 7 June 1966.

   b. On 14 May 1967, he was honorably discharged from active duty, as a specialist five/E-5. His DD 214 Form shows he completed 11 months and 8 days of active military service. It also shows he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge (Rifle M-14).
   a. 

   c. He was appointed as a Reserve commissioned officer of the Army and entered active duty on 15 May 1967.

   d. He served in Vietnam from 13 May 1968 to 7 December 1969, through 4 campaigns.  He was assigned as follows:

* Special Operations Augmentation (SOA), 5th Special Forces Group (SFG)
* Forward Operations Base, C&C Detachment , 5th SFG
* Special Operations Augmentation (B-53), 5th SFG

   e. On 3 September 1973, he was honorably released from active duty. His DD Form 214 shows he completed 7 years, 2 months, and 27 days of total active military service. He completed the Special Forces Officers Course, and held specialty 31542 (Special Forces Officer). He had 4 years and 1 month of Foreign Service that included a tour in Korea.  His DD Form 214 also shows he was awarded or authorized:

* Vietnam Service Medal w/ 4 bronze service stars
* Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea)
* Bronze Star Medal
* Purple Heart
* Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/ Palm
* Vietnamese Jump Wings
* Parachutist Badge
* Combat Infantryman Badge
* National Defense Service Medal
* Sharpshooter Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar (M-14)

4. His DA Form 66 (Officer Qualification Record) shows in addition to the above awards he was awarded or authorized Army Commendation Medal.

5. A review of the applicant’s record confirms he is eligible for an awards that are not recorded on his DD Form 214. The awards will be added to his DD Form 214 as administrative corrections and will not be considered by the Board. The applicant is authorized the Army Commendation Medal, General Order (GO) Number 43, dated 16 April 1970. In addition, the Board will not consider the Cold War Recognition Certificate as application for the recognition is required through U.S. Army Human Resources Command is required at
https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/awards%20and%20decorations%20branch%20related% 20links%20and%pocs

6. Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards) provides the Special Forces (SF) Tab may be awarded for successful completion of the SF Qualification Course or the SF Detachment Officer Qualification Course (previously known as the SF Officers Course).
1. 



7. DAGO Number 56, dated 1969, awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation to Forward Operations Base, C&C Detachment, 5th Special Forces Group and Special Operations Augmentation, 5th Special Forces Group for the period of 30 April 1968 to 31 Oct 1968 and DAGO Number 70, dated 1969 for the period of 31 January to
31 December 1969 BOARD DISCUSSION:
After review of the application and all evidence, the Board determined relief is warranted.  The applicant’s contentions were carefully considered.  The analyst of record provided relief in the administrative notes below.  The applicant completed the SF Officers Course and served as a SF Officer in a SF unit. His DD Form 214 does not show he was awarded the SF Tab. The Board agreed the DD Form 214 should be corrected to show the SF Tab.

BOARD VOTE:

Mbr 1
Mbr 2
Mbr 3

X
X
X
GRANT FULL RELIEF
:
:
:
GRANT PARTIAL RELIEF
:
:
:
GRANT FORMAL HEARING
:
:
:
DENY APPLICATION


BOARD DETERMINATION/RECOMMENDATION:

In addition to the administrative notes annotated by the Analyst of Record (below the signature), the Board determined the evidence presented is sufficient to warrant a recommendation for partial relief. As a result, the Board recommends that all Department of the Army records of the individual concerned be corrected by amending item 24 on his DD Form 214 for the perio6d/2e1/n20d1i9ng 3 September 1973 by adding the Special Forces Tab.


6/26/2019
X 

CHAIRPERSON
Signed by: 

I certify that herein is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in this case.


ADMINISTRATIVE NOTE(S):

A review of the applicant’s records shows he is authorized awards and decorations not listed on his DD Form 214.  As a result, correct his DD Form 214 by adding

* Army Commendation Medal
* Meritorious Unit Commendation (2nd Award)
* 

REFERENCES:


1. Title 10, USC, section 1552(b), provides that applications for correction of military records must be filed within three years after discovery of the alleged error or injustice. This provision of law also allows the Army Board for Correction of Military Records (ABCMR) to excuse an applicant's failure to timely file within the three-year statute of limitations if the ABCMR determines it would be in the interest of justice to do so.

2. Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides the SF Tab is awarded to:
   a. Any person meeting one of the criteria below may be awarded the SF Tab:
    (1) Successful completion of USAJFKSWCS approved Active Army institutional training leading to SF qualification.
    (2) Successful completion of a USAJFKSWCS approved RC SF qualification program.
    (3) Successful completion of an authorized unit-administered SF qualification program.
   b. For active component institutional training, the SF Tab may be awarded to all personnel for successful completion of the SF Qualification Course or SF Detachment Officer Qualification Course (previously known as the SF Officer Course). These courses are or were conducted by the USAJFKSWCS (previously known as the U.S. Army Institute for Military Assistance).

3. Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-3 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register), published to assist commanders and personnel officers in determining or establishing the eligibility of individual members for campaign participation credit, assault landing credit, and unit citation badges awarded during the Vietnam Conflict, the Grenada Operation, and the period of service subsequent to the Vietnam Conflict up to September 1987.  DAGO Number 56, dated 1969, for the period of 30 April 1968 to
31 Oct 1968 and DAGO Number 70, dated 1969 for the period of 31 January to 31 December 1969 awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation to:

* Forward Operations Base, C&C Detachment, 5th Special Forces Group
* Special Operations Augmentation, 5th Special Forces Group

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